1 Ne 12 Nephi
switches continents
Nephi’s
vision, thus far, has been about events which happen in Jerusalem. Chapter 12
contains a portion of the vision which deals with the history of the Nephites and
Lamanites. It covers a time frame which parallels the Book of Mormon history
(excluding the Jaredites).
1 Ne 12:1 behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren… in
number as many as the sand of the sea.
Nephi sees the
history of the Lamanites and Nephites. Therefore, Nephi knew from very early
on, that there would be a permanent division in the family. So far he has
learned that his brothers are not going to partake of the tree of life. Now he
will learn that the seed of his brothers will have many wars with his
descendants. In addition, he sees the land of promise years before arriving
there.
Many experts
have tried to figure out how large the population was in Book of Mormon times.
Nephi describes it as “in number as the sand of the
sea.” Expert predictions may understimate the number of people who lived
on this continent. Evidence suggests that near the time of Christ, the
settlements were not great in number, and the geography was confined to a
relatively small area. However, latter-day attempts to shrink the geography
populations of the Book of Mormon have at times gone too far. Nothing can be
determined about the number of people who lived in the Jaredite era or during
the many generations which passed between Nephi and king Benjamin. We must
accept the fact that the Book of Mormon was not written as a census or an
almanac. But the population seemed to Nephi ‘as the
sand of the sea’ for multitude.
1 Ne
12:4-5 I saw
a mist of darkness and the vapor of darkness
Nephi refers
to a mist of darkness and the vapor of darkness (v.
5). He is seeing the actual vapor of darkness that covered the land of promise
for 3 days after the death of the Savior (3 Ne 8:19-23). However, the mist of
darkness also symbolizes the temptations of the devil which had overcome the
Nephites right before their destruction. This was a time of incredible
wickedness among the people, six years had not
passed away since the more part of the people had turned from their
righteousness like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to his wallowing in
the mire…their hearts were turned from the Lord their God, and they did stone
the prophets and did cast them out from among them (3 Ne 7:8,14).
1 Ne 12:4 What
were the lightnings, thunderings, earthquakes, etc. that Nephi saw?
Nephi witnessed
the destructions which happened on the land of promise after the crucifixion of
the Savior. These are described in 3 Ne 8:6-18.
1 Ne 12:8 What
is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?
James
E. Talmage
“Discipleship is general; any follower of a man or devotee to a principle may be called a disciple, The Holy Apostleship is an office and calling belonging to the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood, at once exalted and specific, comprising as a distinguishing function that of personal and special witness to the divinity of Jesus Christ as the one and only Redeemer and Savior of mankind. The apostleship is an individual bestowal, and as such is conferred only through ordination. That the Twelve did constitute a council or ‘quorum’ having authority in the Church established by Jesus Christ is shown by their ministrations after the Lord’s resurrection and ascension.
“….The word
‘apostle’ is an Anglicized form derived from the Greek apostolos, meaning
literally ‘one who is sent,’ and connoting an envoy or official messenger, who
speaks and acts by the authority of one superior to himself.” (Jesus the
Christ, p. 227-8)
1 Ne 12:8 Were the Nephite Twelve apostles or disciples?
“Question:
‘In our class the question was asked if the twelve chosen by the Savior
among the Nephites were apostles? At the same time the apostles chosen by Jesus
in Palestine were on the earth the Lord chose twelve also on the American
continent whom he called disciples. I have felt that there could not be more
than one set of apostles on the earth at any given time, but some members of
the class thought otherwise, and we have been confused.’
“Answer: The twelve men chosen by our Savior among the
Nephites are called disciples in the Book of Mormon…(quotes 1 Ne. 12:8-10)
“In fulfilment of this
prophecy when the Savior came to the Nephites, he chose twelve men and gave
them authority to minister in his name among the Nephites on this American
continent in all the ordinances essential to their salvation. These twelve went
forth healing the sick and performing many miracles and administering the
ordinances as they had been commanded to do. The fulness of the gospel with the
power and the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood were given to the
Nephites the same as they were to the Church on the Eastern Hemisphere
“While in every instance
the Nephite twelve are spoken of as disciples, the fact remains that they had
been endowed with divine authority to be special witnesses for Christ among
their own people. Therefore, they were virtually apostles to the Nephite race,
although their jurisdiction was, as revealed to Nephi, eventually to be subject
to the authority and jurisdiction of Peter and the twelve chosen in Palestine.
According to the definition prevailing in the world an apostle is a witness for
Christ, or one who evangelizes a certain nation or people. ‘A zealous advocate
of a doctrine or cause.’ Therefore the Nephite twelve became apostles, as
special witnesses, just as did Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the
Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 5
vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957-1966], 1: 120-122.)
1 Ne 12:9 the twelve apostles….shall judge the twelve tribes of
Israel…twelve ministers shall judge thy seed.
We often
imagine that Jesus Christ will be our judge. In John 5:22 we learn that the Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment
unto the Son. The Son, however, has committed judgment unto others. The
Father delegated the responsibility to the Son, and the Son delegated the
responsibility to the twelve apostles and twelve disciples. These 24 men, and
others, will judge mankind under the direction of the Savior. This was made
clear when the Lord spoke to Peter in Matt 19:28, ye
also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
In Revelation
we learn that the books were opened….and the dead
were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to
their works (Rev 20:12). The
Father is responsible for writing the books, the Savior is responsible for
establishing the pattern by which men should be judged, and the Savior’s
apostles/disciples are the actual judges. This pattern is shown in 3 Ne
27:25-27. This prompted the counsel to the twelve disciples, Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say
unto you, even as I am. The
scriptures are replete with confirmations that this judgment will be just, But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to
truth (Rom 2:2), Lord God Almighty, true and
righteous are thy judgments (Rev 16:7).
Who else will
be a judge? 1) Bishops, stake presidencies, and higher church councils act as
judges on matters under their administration (DC 107:69-80). 2) When
missionaries are rejected and perform the ordinance of dusting off their feet,
they will act as judges for the people who rejected their message (DC
75:19-22). 3) The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment against the people who
rejected Christ during his ministry because they [the men of Ninevah] repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater
than Jonas is here (Matt 12:41). 4) Paul says that the saints will also
judge the world, Do ye not know that the saints
shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you are ye unworthy
to judge the smallest matters? (1 Cor 6:2)
Bruce R. McConkie
“Under Christ a great hierarchy of judges will operate, each functioning in his assigned sphere. John saw many judges sitting upon thrones. ("#rev. 20:4Rev. 20:4.) Paul said the saints would judge both the world and angels. ("#1 cor. 6:2"#1 cor. 6:31 Cor. 6:2-3.) The elders are to sit in judgment on those who reject them. ("#D&C 75:21"#D&C 75:22D. & C. 75:21-22; "#matt. 10:14"#matt. 10:15Matt. 10:14-15.) Daniel saw that judgment would be given to the saints. ("#dan. 7:22Dan. 7:22.) The Nephite Twelve will be judged by the Twelve from Jerusalem and then in turn will judge the Nephite nation. ("#1 ne. 12:9"#1 ne. 12:101 Ne. 12:9-10; "#3 ne. 27:273 Ne. 27:27; "#morm. 3:19Morm. 3:19.) And the Twelve who served with our Lord in his ministry shall judge the whole house of Israel. ("#D&C 29:12D. & C. 29:12.) No doubt there will be many others of many dispensations who will sit in judgment upon the peoples of their days and generations—all judging according to the judgment which Christ shall give them, ‘which shall be just.’ ("#3 ne. 27:273 Ne. 27:27.)” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:558.)
1 Ne 12:10 garments are made white in his blood
Bruce R. McConkie
“We clean our garments by washing them in water. Filth, dirt, germs, odors, and whatever is unclean and offensive is thus removed; our wearing apparel becomes clean and spotless. A saved person is one whose soul is clean and spotless, one who is free from the filth and corruption of sin; and the prophetic way of describing such a person is to say that his garments are clean. Since the only way a human soul can be cleansed and perfected is through the atonement of Christ, it follows that the symbolic way of describing this process is to say that such a one has washed his garments in the blood of the Lamb, as we have here learned Nephi and Alma did.” (The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ, p. 251.)
1 Ne 12:16-19 Behold the fountain of filthy water….the mists of
darkness….the large and spacious building
Nephi now
returns to the imagery of Lehi’s dream. The depths of the filthy water
represent the depths of hell, the mists of darkness represent the temptations
of the devil, the large and spacious building represents the vain imaginations
and pride of the world, and the great and terrible gulf represents the word of
the justice of the Eternal God. The relationship between these symbols and the
history of the Nephites becomes clear in the next few verses. Nephi sees the
destruction of the Nephites. How did this destruction come? It came because the
Nephites had fallen prey to the temptations of the devil, they had become proud
members of that great and spacious building, and they were about to fall
headlong into the depths of hell.
1 Ne 12:18 a great and terrible gulf divideth them; yea even the word
of the justice of the Eternal God
The justice of
God cannot allow the wicked and righteous to receive the same reward. This
seems simple enough, however Alma’s son Corianton had trouble with this
concept, ‘I perceive there is somewhat more which
doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand—which is concerning the
justice of God in the punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that
it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery’ (Alma
42:1). Alma goes on to show his son that it
is injustice if the sinner is not punished, ‘What,
do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice?…whosoever will come [unto God]
may come and partake of the waters of life freely;
and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last
day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds. If he has desired to
do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him,
according to the restoration of God’ (Alma 42:25-28).
The
DC teaches that the individual must be able to abide the law of the kingdom
he/she enters, ‘For he who is not able to abide the
law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory’ (DC 88:22). A
corollary to this principle is taught by Moroni, ’Do
ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your
souls are racked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his
laws? Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a
holy and just God, under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye
would to dwell with the damned souls in hell’ (Mormon 9:3-4).
Therefore, the justice of
God is actually merciful in requiring that the righteous and wicked be
separated. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, this same gulf is
described separating those in Spirit Prison from those in Spirit Paradise, ‘between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that
they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us,
that would come from thence’ (Lu 16:26).
Hugh Nibley
“…’a great and terrible gulf divideth them.’ There it
is again. It is a figure of speech, an image. Nothing could better describe it;
there is a great and terrible gulf between two different ways of living. There
is nothing in common between them at all. You can't breach it….” (Teachings
of the Book of Mormon--Semester 1: Transcripts of Lectures Presented to an
Honors Book of Mormon Class at Brigham Young University, 1988—1990, p. 195)